Brigada Eskwela is NOT an activity everyone is excited about, especially when it means, “cleaning” or “energy draining” to some or maybe, many?

This school year, the program commences June 9, Monday. As the PTA President of Iloilo National High School, Special Program for Business and Entrepreneurship, I coordinated with one of our head teachers to make sure the schedule and activities are well aligned or organized and hopefully will be effective, by relaying down information to class officers. I cleared my schedule, booked a hotel overnight, just so I could avoid being late for this activity because the target was to prepare the Science Centrum or now called the SPBE building—to at least be decent for the students, cobwebs removed and dusts sitting everywhere wiped out. The said structure used to be an observatory on purpose, and not really that suitable for classrooms because the air ventilation is somewhat challenging that the school has taken its initiative to have it renovated through the LGU. Despite its current condition, the SPBE learners are still on the brighter situation as the space’ conversion into classrooms has been a tool in implementing the classes to on-campus from the origin online modality.

INHS is a huge public school, in fact, one of the biggest in the Visayas or even the Philippines with around 6,000-8,000 students yearly and with the most special programs, designed for the talented, the skilled, and the geniuses, that any parent must understand the responsibilities of the school heads’ are quite tough, one can’t elaborate. Thus, I believe a little help from the parents considered as partners and stakeholder can move mountains,  especially when it comes from one’s own will to create a positive change.

However, despite the advocacy or the enlightenment of the volunteer parents, the call was not entirely heard or felt that I observed, far from 20% of the parents in the entire school attended or felt it as necessary. There’s really something missing in the Philippine government education system, especially in subsidizing “able’ families who can even send their kids to private schools, but rather avoid spending a penny. Thus, sending their babies instead in prominent public schools for association and benefits, yet, show less care in doing their parental duties of collaborating or cooperating with the school in the education growth of their children, thinking that once their children stepped in the campus, the education institution is to be fully blamed for facilities or efforts lacking.

It seems that parenting these days are directing into a slum. I mean, when we say “volunteer’ or “non-mandatory,’ most would never give a damn care at all. Like, “Why should we be there? Why should we contribute? We still have more things needing attention!”

What is more important than making sure that your children’s second home is mosquitoes-free or dust-free or wouldn’t cause “asthma’ that might harm the dearest, most loved kid?” What is more ideal than a safe and comfortable space for learning?

Being responsible head of the family probably focuses more at home for many, rather than being involved in their children’s daily life outside of it. Let me remind you that “Education is two-way!” School helps the children, parents help the school more, and that should be very clear and doesn’t even need a reminder. Instead, why not ask, “What can we do (to help) for our children?’

In that case, what kind of community do we expect 10 or 20 years from today, when the parents, children model don’t even know what “Bayanihan” means. Well, volunteerism could be dead for the entitled.